Philippine officials say DNA tests confirm death of terrorist leader

U.S. DNA tests confirmed the death of a Muslim militant commander who helped lead the siege of a city in southern Philippines in 2017 and was a key leader of the Islamic State in the region, officials said Sunday.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said the tests confirmed that Owaida Marohombsar, also known as Abu Dar, was one of four militants killed in a gunbattle March 14 that left four soldiers dead near the southern town of Tubaran in Lanao del Sur province.

The Philippine military asked U.S. authorities to confirm Marohombsar’s death through DNA tests.